Do I really need to get a flu shot?

Yes, prevention is always the best route in healthcare. Scientists throughout the world, including at our own Centers for Disease Control, recommend a vaccine as the best defense against influenza. Because the virus constantly mutates, the vaccine must be updated annually. Since we never know when influenza will hit our community, the earlier you can get the shot, the better. It takes a couple of weeks after vaccination for your body to develop antibodies, so getting the shot in early fall, before the full onset of the flu season, is a good practice. We have made tremendous advances in our understanding and treatment of the flu in recent years.

Despite that, over 80,000 people died of it in the US last year according to the CDC, making it one of the worst flu seasons in recent memory. It was driven by a strain of the virus that tends to put more people in the hospital and cause more deaths, particularly among young children and the elderly. Research shows the vaccine not only lowers the chance of getting the flu but makes the illness less severe and saves lives. October is a great month to visit Yubadocs to be vaccinated, and most insurances will cover the cost of the shot.

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